To rhyme or not
I posted my first story to the writers blog. Johanna has already commented about being asked to de-rhyme a submission. Does anyone else have experience with this or found information through conferences about rhyming picture books? I love reading rhyming books why would they not want to publish them? Please share if you have info. Thanks Johanna for sharing your experience.Also, I stumbled upon an interesting take on life balance from Karen Maezen Miller. Makes you think...
4 Comments:
From what I remember at conferences, rhyming books are poo-pooed a little-I think because there are so many BAD rhyming books submitted. Apparently some authors use rhyming as a crutch to hide a weak story? However, I've also heard that if it's done really WELL, (in a fresh way)then there is nothing wrong with a rhyming story.
From all the writer's workshops I have attended during the past 18 months to two years, it's all about the quality of the rhyme, too many manuscripts written seem forced and unnatural or cheesy. Again this could be to cover up a weak story or perhaps it's just the author has an ability for rhyme but needs strengthening — who knows. The best exercise I can suggest is to write it both ways. if you submit rhyme to an editor and they suggest you try prose, you can immediately respond with your non-rhyming format. You now have two manuscripts to market not just one. But definitely make sure both versions are as polished as they can be.
All of my writing is in rhyme
Its really just how I write all the time.
I would write how you write because it is YOU
Not because its what someone told you to do.
hee.
Oh my gosh! We NEED more good rhyming books out there. As a preschool teacher (and parent to a 3 year old) I've been finding plenty of Bad Rhyming Books. Either the stories are weak, the rhyming doesn't really work (you have to pronounce words differently to make it work), or the rhythm is lacking. It's got to have a nice rhythm to work, in my opinion.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home